Playing badly :p

[MusicalJudo]

Hey guys, did some recording as a bit of a challenge to myself to get back into proper practice, just wondering if I could get some advice on my playing, things like that. You guys have some epic trained ears, after all. Learnt and recorded in under an hour, just using a backing track and Audacity so as to not blur things too much; hoping to get some feedback be it technical, phrasing, timing, tonal or otherwise.

If this isn't the right spot to post this, apologies in advance!

Took on Symphony X's "Sonata", hopefully I did it justice.

The original (D. Standard tuning): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGmWUafEzNo

My cover version (couldn't find many sites to upload simple audio files!): http://vocaroo.com/i/s0kjyMiVksED

Be as bluntly honest as you like, I'm grateful for any and all advice. Even if it's a "you play s**t!" just as long as you can give me some pointers along with it!

[Trypios]

Dude, I know the piece is based on Beethoven's sonata Pathetique, but don't act pathetic

Your performance is fine. It was only messy on 1:18. And the bending at 0:48 was slightly out of tune.
I don't know if your guitar has a floyd, if it does you can use it to scoop some quarter notes like Romeo does.

Lastly, I don't like neither yours or Romeo's mix. The guitar is too drowned.

[MusicalJudo]

Haha, well played! Call it an overdeveloped sense of modesty I suppose?

Was I too low or too high on that bend?

And drowned how so? Amp settings and mixing have been my weakest spot when it comes to guitar playing, so -please- make some suggestions! :3

[Trypios]

I don't know, tone is very subjective. Others might find it suitable. Sounds like the mids are scooped and the highs get somehow irritating to my ears. I tend to go for the opposite. I cut around 800hz (some like to boost like Van Halen does for his signature "brown tone", and I boost around 250-400hz but carefully due to muddiness. This gives a bit of warmth. I also completely cut everything above 4-6Khz (you don't need it for the guitar). That of course depends on the amp+cabinet and/or pedals. I like a more round tone. My graphic EQ usually looks like a frowney face for lead sounds and a smiley face for rhythm.

http://www.cheatography.com/fredv/cheat-sheets/eq-tips/

[The_Heretic_Divine]

You're close. As Trypios suggested,Romeos trem scoops are what gives it character. Also,developing strong vibrato will go a long way(ala Malmsteen). The best advice I ever took from anything was a quote from Steve Vai,years ago. It isn't the notes,but how you attack and play the notes. That's what makes it you. Meaning,Romeo,Vai,Malmsteen,or whoever,could play the exact piece,note for note,using the same rig,and they will all sound COMPLETELY different. Outside of that,I think it was well played,and you have NOTHING to be ashamed of or modest(to a fault) about.

[Staygrey92]

That was great man! Well done.

[Andhe Chandler]

Nice work! One little thing that helped me with my bending years ago, was to pick the note you are bending to, play that, then bend the original note to the right pitch. Keep doing that and your muscle memory will learn how far to move so you can precisely hit a 1/4, 1/2, whole pitch up or down etc. It takes time, but that and some nice vibrato really go a long way Keep it up, nice work!

[MusicalJudo]

Awesome tip! I've been practicing that here and there, I'll keep at it. Thanks much!

Would exercises with vibrato basically be the same?

[MusicalJudo]

Hopefully this one's a little better!

Doing an instrumental only cover of Stratovarius' "Father Time", one of my favorite songs of theirs. Drums were MIDI, all guitars and bass done by yours truly in a very quick little record/mix session with my brother. Hope you guys don't mind. Anyone with a voice on here, feel free to download and maybe record some vocals? Come on! :P

http://vocaroo.com/i/s1Y8IOAqqFQL

Judge guitar-ing as harshly and honestly as you like; I appreciate constructive feedback, and who better than Caparison guitarists to give it?

[Nebulous]

You've got some pretty decent chops there man!
I thought I'd revive this to see if you've recorded anything recently since getting all the feedback?
Do you play in a band at all?

One of my goals for the year is to get some more recording done, both covers and original to really hone my playing and writing, so I'll likely share when those are ready.